Mobile Phone Navigation App

Maxton

I am going on a 'Fly Drive' to the west coast of USA for 3 weeks. I intend buying a free SIM phone. Which phone is best for using a navigation app and the most cost effective way of doing this? My budget is up to £300 for the phone. Wanting to use the phone in the US for emergency's and the Nav app. Not bothered about contacting home.

pepdavies

Why not buy a satnav? You won't need to pay much for a basic one

grumbler

Nokila Lumia 620?

There are several good sub-£100 Androids around, but the default Android app requires mobile data connection. I think free apps that work offline will be worse than Nokia maps.

Maxton

I have a PDA which I use as a Sat Nav but will need to buy the map for it as well and take the holder etc with it. Was thinking the phone could double up as I would need it for emergency's anyway?

pepdavies

I wouldn't be surprised if the rental car has one, but I would get the largest screen you can afford, something like a galaxy s3, then get a nav app with preloaded maps so you don't need lots of data. To be honest, Google navigation doesn't use very much data anyway :-)

Maxton

Thanks Pep, will look at the Galaxy S3, never had a smartphone so its good advice.:T

Maxton

Thanks Grumbler, must admit have always found Nokia's easier to use.

grumbler

620 is a new 'Windows' phone, very different from classic ones.

I have to say that there are many good phones for ~£300 around, but this definitely will not be a "cost-effective" way.

ETA: and I forgot that there was even less expensive Nokia 520.

Maxton

Thanks, was looking at an alternative. When I was in New Zealand I bought a NZ sim card and took my PDA with Sat Nav. But was using a large motorhome so it wasn't an issue. The config worked well at the time.

Guys_Dad

Maxton wrote: »

Thanks, was looking at an alternative. When I was in New Zealand I bought a NZ sim card and took my PDA with Sat Nav. But was using a large motorhome so it wasn't an issue. The config worked well at the time.

Other half and I have 2 Samsungs, a Sony Experia and a Nokia Lumia 720 between us.

The Lumia knocks socks off the Androids for Navigation. EWven worked in Antigua and Turkey when I had roaming off as it uses built-in maps and no data. (You download the maps you want prior to leaving UK and they are free)

The Androids can take ages to connect to the satellite. The Lumia is as fast as my Garmin Sat Nav to connect.

And the 520, 620 and 720 all fall within your budget,

As for a holder, get one off Ebay for £3.99

Maxton

That's excellent! That's music to my ears..and eyes! I will definitely take a look as my present phone is a Nokia and find it really simple to use. Once again, Thank you and your better half for field testing the equipment for:money: me :-))